The Carbon Wave
Book Club Discussion Questions

Reading with a group? These questions follow the three acts of the book. Use as many or as few as you like.

Act I: Defeat

  1. How have you seen the idea of a carbon footprint versus a carbon wave in your own life?
  2. How do children and parenthood impact the characters’ own work on climate policy? If you have children, what parts of your worldviews shifted after becoming a parent?
  3. Democrats had to pass this climate package through the budget reconciliation process. Why did that matter? What sorts of constraints did that put them under?

Act II: Victory

  1. The IRA was driven by collaboration between those in government (Congress, the White House) and outside experts and advocates. What role did the climate movement play in pushing the law across the finish line?
  2. What surprised you most about the law coming back to life? Did you expect Senator Manchin to come back to the table?
  3. The final law was a compromise, with many hard-fought provisions left on the cutting room floor. What losses felt the most consequential to you? What would you want to make sure was included in a future climate law?

Act III: Homeward

  1. Despite many rollbacks from the second Trump administration, many of the IRA’s provisions—especially its biggest tax credits—remain intact. Why do you think that is?
  2. What are ways you could engage with your community to build your own carbon wave? What sorts of issues would you want to organize around?